CONTROVERSIAL plans to change Penarth's parliamentary constituency have been met with mixed reaction from politicians and residents.

A review by the Boundary Commission for Wales has suggested splitting Penarth from Cardiff South and place it within a new Vale of Glamorgan East constituency. It would see Penarth and Barry combined for the first time in more than 30 years.

The aim is to meet the target population of around 75,000, with the Vale of Glamorgan constituency split in two, and a Vale of Glamorgan West area joining Bridgend.

Cardiff South will form part of a new constituency with an area designated Cardiff East. This would replace Cardiff Central.

Nationally, the current 40 Welsh MPs would be slashed to 29, under the proposals.

The Cardiff South and Penarth constituency is currently the largest in Wales with a population of more than 100,000 and an electorate of around 75,000.

The first MP for the constituency was elected in 1983, following the abolition of the Barry parliamentary seat. Labour have held it ever since.

Stephen Doughty has been serving the area since a by-election in 2012. He retained his seat at the 2015 general election.

Before him, current South Wales Police and Crime Commissioner, Alun Michael, was the long-standing MP for the constituency. He took over from Sir James Callaghan.

The proposal will now go out for a 12-week consultation with the final report due to be presented in 2018.

The Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Act 2011 requires a reduction in the number of UK constituencies from 650 to 600, and for every UK constituency to have an electorate within the range of 71,031 to 78,507.

But Mr Doughty has called the review and reduction of Welsh constituencies "fundamentally flawed".

"While equalising numbers of voters is understandable - it used wholly inaccurate lists of voters that significantly underestimate the actual electorate in many areas as compared to the much higher voter registration seen by the time of the EU referendum," he said.

"To reduce the number of democratically elected MPs while expanding and stacking the House of Lords with political cronies is simply unacceptable.

"There was significant difference between the first and second maps in the last review.

"I will therefore be getting on with the job of representing all the people of Penarth, Sully, Llandough and Cardiff South."

Steve Halsall, secretary to the commission, said: "The commission has produced a set of initial proposals which meet the requirements of the 2011 Act.

"It has also taken into account other relevant factors and has sought to identify the solutions most suitable to local needs within Wales.

"I would emphasise that these are initial proposals and I very much hope that members of the public will participate in the process of consultation which now begins."

Former Cardiff South and Penarth MP Alun Michael said he feels a relationship with Cardiff is "crucial" to Penarth's future.

"Both gain from the resonance between communities, their geography and their economies," he added.

"I loved representing Cardiff South and Penarth because it is such a diverse and varied constituency.

"It is balanced and already at the size the commission is seeking to make the norm."

A public hearing will take place from October 26-27 at the Mercure Hotel in Cardiff, as part of the consultation.

We hit Penarth's streets to get your views:

Penarth mum Rebecca Person said that she felt it was a good idea as it would "bring Penarth back into the Vale".

David Joynson said that he could see 'why they were doing it but that it doesn't take into account historical differences or specific needs of certain areas'.

"If they are going to reduce the number of MPs they should also reduce the number in the House of Lords," he added.

Gemma Sawyer said she was undecided, but hopes that more money can be spent in Penarth on things that matter whatever the outcome.

Trader David Lush said that he felt that moving Penarth to the Vale would give the town a more fair representation, while Paul Murphy said that they would not have the numbers that the commission requires if Penarth was to move westwards.

Another Penarth resident, Rowland Davies, said that as Penarth lies in a different parliamentary constituency to its council area, "the proposal should remove the anomaly and lead to greater clarity at all levels of government".